Should I clean my toothbrush?

A toothbrush is used every day to scrub plaque and bacteria off the surface of your teeth and tongue, so it’s no surprise it carries much more bacteria than you think. What’s more, your toothbrush is also probably stored in the bathroom, which means bacteria may accumulate on your bristles. This article will tell you how to disinfect your toothbrush and keep it safe and clean each time you use it.

Rinse under hot water

Before and after each use, rinsing your toothbrush under hot water can help get rid of the bacteria that have accumulated on the bristles, and remove the new bacteria in time. This step should be gone before applying toothpaste and make sure the water is hot enough to produce steam.

Soak in anti-bacteria mouthwash

Another useful way to clean the toothbrush is to soak it in anti-bacteria mouthwash. Just put your toothbrush’s head down in a small cup of mouthwash for about 2 minutes after each use. The time shouldn’t be too long, as the mouthwash can also wear out your toothbrush faster.

UV toothbrush sanitizer

It has been proved that UV light was the most effective way to disinfect toothbrushes. The UV light sanitizer is able to kill germs by destroying the molecular bonds between the DNA of viruses and bacteria. So, an ultra-violet light sanitizer made especially for toothbrushes is definitely worth buying.

Store your toothbrush properly

It is important to leave your toothbrush upright in the open air because germs tend to flourish in moisture and closed containers. However, you should never leave it close to the toilet. When you flush the toilet, the fecal matter called “toilet plume” will spread harmful bacteria all over the surface in your bathroom, including your toothbrush.

Another harmful habit many people have is to store different toothbrushes side by side. Putting multiple toothbrushes together can lead to cross-contamination, as germs can contact the bristles.

Replace your toothbrush regularly

Generally, the toothbrush should be replaced every 3-4 months. But if your toothbrush has other circumstances, you should also throw it away.

• The bristles are bent or frayed and it can’t clean your teeth effectively.
• You’ve shared your toothbrush, meaning that another totally different mouth flora has messed up with yours on the toothbrush.